Hurley School of Music presents Duo-Piano concert March 26

SHREVEPORT, La. (Centenary News Service) — The Hurley School of Music will present pianists Emily Hirsch and Gay Grosz in a duo-piano concert on Saturday, March 26 beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Anderson Auditorium of the Hurley School of Music. Works by Mozart, Dvorak, and Rachmaninoff will be performed. The recital is free and open to the public.

Emily Hirsch

Emily Hirsch is on faculty at the Centenary Piano Prep Department, having begun her first days of piano playing as a student in the same department under Janet Colbert. Hirsch is a 2007 piano performance graduate from Texas Christian University. While at TCU, she won the Norton Scholarship in 2004 and the 2007 Presser Award.

Originally entering college with the desire to become a professional concert pianist, she fell in love with teaching instead. Her other teachers have included Jo Boatright of Dallas and Harold Martina of TCU. Hirsch has received master classes from Veda Kaplinsky, Nelita True, Peter Frenkl, and Robert Blocker. She has performed as a soloist with the Marshall Symphony Orchestra, Texas Street Arts Series, and the Noel Masterworks Concert Series. Hirsch currently enjoys playing the piano for her church family of Trinity Baptist Church.

Gay Grosz

Gay Grosz '90 is well known regionally as a soloist, collaborative artist and adjudicator. She is on the piano faculty at the Hurley School of Music at Centenary College where she teaches piano, accompanying, and chamber music. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from Centenary where she was named Outstanding Graduating Senior. She received her MM and DMA degrees in piano performance from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge where she studied with Constance Carroll, Jennifer Hayghe, and Willis Delony. While in residence at LSU, Grosz received top honors in a graduate assistantship. She served as accompanist for the LSU A Cappella choir as well as the LSU Opera Company. She was also the first recipient of the annual James Ronald Brothers Achievement in Accompanying award presented by the Southern Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).

Dr. Grosz serves as the principal pianist for the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and is accompanist for the internationally known Nena Wideman Piano Competition each year. She is the coach/accompanist for East Texas Opera Company, and also serves in that capacity for Shreveport Opera when needed. She performs regularly with the Baroque Artists of Shreveport and is a member of the Evangeline Trio.

For more information on this concert or any upcoming event, contact the Hurley School of Music at 318.869.5235.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 373 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.